Idjiwi

Idjiwi
Idjiwi Island is located in the southern part of Lake Kiwu
Waters	Kiwu Lake
Geographical location	2 ° 10 ′  S , 29 ° 3 ′  E Coordinates: 2 ° 10 ′  S , 29 ° 3 ′  E

Idjiwi (also: Idjwi or Idschwi ) is an island in Lake Kiwu and belongs to the Democratic Republic of the Congo ( South Kivu Province ). With a length of 40 km and an area of ​​285 km² it is the second largest inland island in a lake in Africa . The island of Ukerewe in the nearby Lake Victoria , which belongs to Tanzania, is much larger at 530 km². Idjwi is roughly equidistant from the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the west bank and Rwanda on the eastern side of the lake. About 10–15 km of water separate the island from the mainland. However, the southern tip of the island is only a kilometer from the state territory of Rwanda, which extends a little south around the lake.

The highest point on the island is 2239 m , the largest towns are Kiumba and Malambo in the north and Kashofo in the south. The Nyamizi ferry connects the island with Bukavu and Goma . According to estimates, Idjiwi had around 50,000 residents in 1983. After the genocide in Rwanda , around 46,000 Rwandan refugees came to the island. According to estimates made in 1996, the number of Congolese residents of Idjiwi has also increased significantly to 112,000. The island's population has tripled within 13 years. The population lives almost entirely on subsistence farming , and malnutrition is widespread, especially among children.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Idschwi , German colonial lexicon , Vol. 2, Leipzig 1920, p.88.